COMMENTS: Access road is approximately 3 miles North of Roaring Springs Ranch on State Road 205. It is unmarked. Travel about 3 miles West on gravel road to cross intersection and head South (turn left) 8 miles. Road deteriorates especially when wet.

UPDATE:We visited (or tried to) visit Blitzen in Harney County in Oregon  this year last month ( 05/07) and found out that first, the buildings are no  longer standing; and secondly. Roaring Springs Ranch now owns all the property around Blitzen so there is no way to access the road.  So Blitzen got Blitzed!  Mark Farrell

REMAINS: Only a few structures are still standing as of 1998.

Blitzen was one of the many settlements
that arose in the Catlow Valley in the
late 1800's. The town was named after
the Donner and Blitzen River which
flows nearby. (Donner and Blitzen is
German for Thunder and Lightning; the river
was named in 1864 by Captain George
Currey as he crossed the stream during
a raging thunderstorm.) Sources vary
as to the year in which the post office
at Blitzen was established. One record
lists the date as 1888, another 1915.
It is believed, however, that a man named
Stewart became the town's first
postmaster. Stewart opened a prosperous
general store that eventually fell into
the hands of Robert Bradeen. Several
residences, another store, a school,
a saloon, and some minor buildings were
constructed at Blitzen over the years.
Gradually the town's population
dwindled to zero; the post office was
closed in February of 1943. Many of
the original structures at Blitzen are
still standing, although all are in an
advanced state of deterioration.Submitted by: Patricia Decock

Blitzen was one of many settlements that arose in the Catlow Valley in the late 1800's. The town was named after the Donner and Blitzen River which flows nearby. (Donner und Blitzen is German for "Thunder and Lightning"; the river was named in 1864 by Captain George Currey as he crossed the stream during a raging thunderstorm.) Sources vary as to the year in which the post office at Blitzen was established. One record lists the date as 1888, another 1915. It is believed, however, that a man named Stewart became the town's first postmaster. Stewart operated a prosperous general store that eventually fell into the hands of Robert Bradeen. Several residences, another store, a school, a saloon, and some minor buildings were constructed at Blitzen over the years. Gradually the town's population dwindled to zero; the post office was closed in February of 1943. Many of the original structures at Blitzen are still standing, although all are in an advanced state of deterioration.
From the Burns Times-Herald May 20, 1987.Submitted by: Virgil Viers aka Coyote's Corner of Oregon